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This car is a local Yuma County car since new. Ford designed the sport coupe to look as if it had a folding top, but it actually has a canvas covering over a fixed wooden framework. If you wanted a drop top version, you would buy the cabriolet- it’s top folded down, but it still had roll up glass windows. If you were more adventurous, you got a roadster with it’s convertible top, and no side windows at all. In case of inclement weather, it was supplied with side curtains that you would position onto the doors with a metal frame and a series of snaps to help keep most of the rain or snow out of the interior. This vehicle had a ground up restoration by a local Model A Ford specialist in the early 1960’s. I have done the repairs on it for the past several years, which included an engine replacement. One of it’s many period accessories is the rare Twin-X two speed rear axle that provides for lower engine rpms during highway cruising.

Purchased new by the same owner as the Rolls Royce, these two 78 Champagne Edition VWs went to auction along with the Rolls. I got to do the break in maintenance on the blue car in 1989, and it was driven a whopping 1100 … Continue reading →

This seat is out of a mid 1970’s Chevrolet farm truck, and obviously in need of some TLC. After stripping it down, repairing the foam, and making a pattern, it was time to cut and stitch a new cover from some sturdy Naugahyde. Now it’s ready for the next harvest.

This is Rich’s daily driver used to commute about 60 miles per day. “Scotty” is a 2000 Honda Insight hybrid. It has a 1.0 liter 3 cylinder gas engine coupled to an electric motor that gives the gas engine a boost when accelerating, and acts as a generator to help recharge the battery pack when braking. It is considered a mild hybrid, since it will not move without the gasoline engine running. The electric motor is sandwiched between the engine and the transmission, and operates only when an extra kick in the pants is needed. Body is constructed mainly of aluminum to help keep curb weight under 2000 lb. He has 140k miles on it currently, with a lifetime fuel economy average of 57 mpg. That is particularly amazing considering that most of the new hybrid offerings aren’t able to achieve 50 mpg. He loves this car, and refuses to replace it until he can buy one that gives better fuel economy. Amazing little car, especially when you consider it’s over 12 years old!

A couple of years ago I had the fantastic experience of getting this car up and running to prepare it for auction. It’s a 1926 Murphy bodied, Springfield Rolls Royce Phantom I dual cowl phaeton. The chassis was built near Springfield, Massachusetts … Continue reading →

Here are the cushions after reupholstering. Bare seat spring units are still available, and I chose to go with the reproduction units for the seat base cushions only. I was able to reuse the long backrest unit, since it was in much better condition than the seat spring units. Instead of using the traditional hog rings to fasten the cover to the seat frame, these have a metal channel around the base of the spring frame that must be bent closed over a welted seam. Others may have a wooden base frame that the cover can be stapled to.

This is the “before” pic of one of the seat cushions out of a customer’s Model TT truck. Rusty, bent and broken springs covered with a nice green carpet that was wired over the framework. A natural habitat for the local mice.